I'm going to be honest, 2012 NFL Mock Draft mavens: I have no idea why the St. Louis Rams wouldn't select Justin Blackmon at No. 6, if given the chance. But if they don't—if someone jumps on him early, or they feel more pressing needs with that early pick and trade down a little more—I won't deny that Notre Dame's Michael Floyd makes more than a little sense. Floyd's been on the Rams' radar since back in 2011, when it looked like he'd declare for the draft a season early.
Of course, right now mock drafters have left the Rams limited room to make a move like this: WalterFootball.com's latest mock has Floyd going to the Jacksonville Jaguars at No. 7, for their even-needier young quarterback, Blaine Gabbert. That leaves room for Floyd only if Blackmon goes in the first five picks—and only then if the Rams value Floyd higher than they do every available player at every other position. SB Nation has Floyd going 16th—but then, they also have the Rams selecting Trent Richardson.
It's difficult but not impossible to imagine the Rams valuing two wide receivers more than everybody else on their board. If they do, Floyd remains a possibility.
More hand-picked 2012 NFL Draft coverage from SB Nation St. Louis:
- The question that really needs to be asked is why wouldn't the Rams select Justin Blackmon; you have to answer that before you can ask anything else.
- It's a matter, too, of what they'll be able to do with all their other picks.
- Of course, whether they're really close to signing Mario Manningham could also make a big difference.